HIT Entertainment

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HIT Entertainment was originally formed as Henson International Television (hit!) in 1983 as a branch of the Jim Henson Company in order to coordinate the co-production of Fraggle Rock in London. The subsidary was later reincorporated and sold; it is now owned by Mattel.

In April 2004, the Jim Henson Company signed a five-year agreement that gave HIT distribution rights of a large portion of the company's "family showcase" media catalogue. In 2006, HIT partnered with 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment for distribution of their DVD titles[1] and in 2008, distribution was taken over by Lionsgate.[2]

Contents

Company history

HIT (Henson International Television) was originally established as an international distribution arm of Jim Henson Productions. The division was later reincorporated as HIT Communications plc. Following the death of Jim Henson in 1990, the business was sold off to several members of the company's management, led by Peter Orton (1943-2007), and renamed HIT Entertainment to prevent any future confusion between the two companies.

Apax Partners acquired the company in May 2005.

In October 2011, it was announced that American toy company Mattel had concluded a deal to purchase Hit Entertainment for $680 million. PBS Kids Sprout was not included in the deal, and that stake is retained by Apax Partners.

On February 1, 2012, the merger was completed, and HIT Entertainment became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mattel.